What's the trick for shipping blanks?

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redfishsc

redfishsc

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I've been doing some blank swapping and am getting eaten alive by shipping. Shipping 20 1X6 blanks cost me $15 today, and that was vacuum packed in a #5 envelope. So far the USPS is the cheapest I can find.

How does a regular jo like me (ie, not a business that mails a lot of stuff) get a decent price on shipping blanks?
 
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So a "flat rate envelope" is something different than a regular heavy-duty orange envelope? I'll check out the USPS site for more info.
I appreciate the help, all!
 
Originally posted by redfishsc
<br />So a "flat rate envelope" is something different than a regular heavy-duty orange envelope? I'll check out the USPS site for more info.
I appreciate the help, all!
Click to expand...

You can pick up the flat rate envelopes and boxes at your Post Office for free. They have different sizes for different needs and are a good deal.
 
I've been trying for the past hour to order the friggin things from their website. I have used their website to order priority boxes and such (which is what I've been using before I found out about flat rate) and it's always been horridly slow. I have come to two conclusions.

1) Their website is the slowest on the planet.

2) NetZero is the WORST POSSIBLE internet provider, I've never been disconnected this much and had so many problems. I hope $@@#% 23@ #^ ^@%^@#%$ !#$%^#&**&(%( 53$ !!
 
If the online ordering won't work, raid your local USPS office...they always have some. If they are not out front...ask the people behind the counter...that's what I just did today [;)]
 
Originally posted by smoky10
<br />What Stan said. you can get probably 15 to 20 blanks in a flat rate envelope and it will cost you $4.05 anywhere in the continental U.S.
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Twenty blanks would be a double layer making the FL envelop quite fat. Postal regs say you cannot change the shape of the envelope. However, anything put in it will change the shape some. I ship only 10 or 11 in an FL envelope. Over that I will weigh a #4 USPS priority box and use if the total is under $8.10, over that I go to a FL Box. You can get quite a bit in one of those boxes for $8.10 and no weight limit.
The double layer of about 20 blanks in the envelop will (probably) be rejected by USPS. You might get it accepted but I had one come back because it was rejected along the line before delivery.
 
Frank,
Not to be contrarian, but I do the old "VCR-tape" box in the flat rate envelope trick that many others use, and have never had a problem. The counter people have even voluntarily taped the flap closed for me on several occasions!!! With one of those boxes, you can squeeze quite a few blanks into the flat-rate box, and you can even write the recipient's address on the box in case the envelope tears. I LOVE the $4.05 boxes!!!
 
Originally posted by Rifleman
<br />
Originally posted by smoky10
<br />What Stan said. you can get probably 15 to 20 blanks in a flat rate envelope and it will cost you $4.05 anywhere in the continental U.S.
Click to expand...

Twenty blanks would be a double layer making the FL envelop quite fat. Postal regs say you cannot change the shape of the envelope. However, anything put in it will change the shape some. I ship only 10 or 11 in an FL envelope. Over that I will weigh a #4 USPS priority box and use if the total is under $8.10, over that I go to a FL Box. You can get quite a bit in one of those boxes for $8.10 and no weight limit.
The double layer of about 20 blanks in the envelop will (probably) be rejected by USPS. You might get it accepted but I had one come back because it was rejected along the line before delivery.
Click to expand...

Frank,

I always do the double layer and mailed as much as 29 blanks in one. The most I mailed that is 7/8" sq x 5.5" is 26 pieces (super tight though).

Never had any problems with it and I mailed quite a lot. I think what they meant by not altering the shape is making the envelope bigger than it really is. Say putting an "extender piece" so it will close or gluing the edge of the flap because the provided sealer/adhesive won't contact the other end of the enveope...or anything similar to that effect.
 
there is no weight limit on a domestic flat rate envelope, global priority mail limit is 4 pounds. However, you are not supposed to use a priority mail VCR box in a Flat Rate Envelope, that is viewed as using two pieces of free packaging for a single postage fee. Don't be surprised if you begin to run into resistance for this act in the near future.

Drew
 
My local post office told me that the priority mail VCR boxes were being discontinued. I got the last two they had and was told they couldn't get any more.
 
Originally posted by gerryr
<br />My local post office told me that the priority mail VCR boxes were being discontinued. I got the last two they had and was told they couldn't get any more.
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Could it be because VCR/VHS tapes are already obsolete? [:eek:)][}:)]

I think it is a good move for USPS. With all the flat rate boxes being used, hardly anyone will use these VCR tape sized boxes now...well except as mentioned above [;)][:D]
 
I'm not sure how you guys do it, but I have never been able to put more than 15 blanks (1x1x6) in a FR envelope. Twenty-six? Definitely stretching things there. How much tape do you put on the outside (which USPS doesn't like)?[?]
 
Bill,

You can ask everyone who bought from me that there is NO tape outside. I do wrap them BEFORE putting inside the envelope [;)][:D]...don't ask me how much tape I use there [}:)].
 
When I use Flat Rate Enevelope, I use the cardboard sleeve the VCR tapes come in... Fill with blanks, wrap with paper, put address on paper... Dab yellow glue on back of paper and seal with their single strip...

No failures yet, sent International Flat Rate to Serge in Australia, JIMGO got his pen and Corian that way... Packages to Michigan, Conn, Texas, etc all got there...

Bad News is some USPS Counter Personnel are real Authoritarians and interpret the guidelines like you were stealing from their pocket...

We have a 24 hr Main Post Office (HUGE) and over 24 area Post Offices... You can get different answers at each one...[:0]
 
Originally posted by JimGo
<br />Frank,
Not to be contrarian, but I do the old "VCR-tape" box in the flat rate envelope trick that many others use, and have never had a problem. The counter people have even voluntarily taped the flap closed for me on several occasions!!! With one of those boxes, you can squeeze quite a few blanks into the flat-rate box, and you can even write the recipient's address on the box in case the envelope tears. I LOVE the $4.05 boxes!!!
Click to expand...

Jim, as John pointed out, the USPS people can have different interpretations of what is reg. and what is not. After one came back to me, I decided not to gamble with wasted postage or delayed deliveries. I, too, have received some very bulky FL envelopes and was happy with the only $4.05 (actually then only $3.85) rate. I don't like charging folks up to $8.10 for just 20 blanks but I would rather they get there in a timely fashion than come back to me.
 
I'm sure, as Frank said, some USPS personell could interpret the regulations differently but when I mail the flat rate envelopes with the VCR box inside my local postal worker tapes them without being asked. I guess thats just service above and beyond whats required. [:D]
 
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